Seatbelt Assistance

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for seatbelt assistance in a vehicle includes determining, based on interior cabin data, whether a seatbelt is correctly fastened. The determining does not provide a positive confirmation that the seatbelt is correctly fastened. The method includes outputting a prompt to a person on the seatbelt to take an action to enable re-determining whether the seatbelt is correctly fastened. The method includes re-determining, based on updated interior cabin data indicating a reaction of the person to the prompt, whether the seatbelt is correctly fastened.

1 . A computer-implemented method for seatbelt assistance in a vehicle, the method comprising:
 determining, based on interior cabin data, whether a seatbelt is correctly fastened, wherein the determining does not provide a positive confirmation that the seatbelt is correctly fastened;   outputting a prompt to a person on the seatbelt to take an action to enable re-determining whether the seatbelt is correctly fastened; and   re-determining, based on updated interior cabin data indicating a reaction of the person to the prompt, whether the seatbelt is correctly fastened.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining that the seatbelt is correctly fastened includes determining, based on the interior cabin data, that the person is seated incorrectly and the prompt includes prompting the person to sit correctly. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining that the seatbelt is correctly fastened includes determining, based on the interior cabin data, that the seatbelt is occluded by an object and/or a body part of the person and the prompt includes prompting the person to clear a sensor field of view on the seatbelt. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining that the seatbelt is correctly fastened includes determining, based on the interior cabin data, that one or more portions of the seatbelt is positioned incorrectly and the prompt includes prompting the person to correct the seatbelt positioning. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising determining, before outputting the prompt and based on the interior cabin data, whether the person has, within a defined threshold of time, seated correctly and/or cleared the sensor field of view and/or positioned the seatbelt correctly. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, in response to re-determining still not providing the positive confirmation that the seatbelt is correctly fastened:
 repeating outputting the prompt and re-determining for a preset number of iterations; and 
 in continued absence of the positive confirmation, outputting at least one of an overriding signal, enabling the person to override seatbelt assistance, and a warning signal indicating that at least one seatbelt is not correctly fastened. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, in response to re-determining providing a positive confirmation that the seatbelt is correctly fastened, outputting a control signal to a vehicle assistance system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the prompt includes a visual and/or audio output signal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining and re-determining whether the seatbelt is correctly fastened utilizes one or more machine-learning models. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the interior cabin data is generated by a vehicle sensor system that includes a camera system having a camera field of view of the seatbelt. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising logging at least one of results of determining and re-determining whether the seatbelt is correctly fastened, outputted signals, and the interior cabin data. 
     
     
         12 . A system for seatbelt assistance in a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a sensor system for sensing a seatbelt fastening;   a data processing system; and   interfaces for outputting a prompt,   wherein the system is configured to perform:
 determining, based on interior cabin data, whether the seatbelt is correctly fastened, wherein the determining does not provide a positive confirmation that the seatbelt is correctly fastened, 
 outputting a prompt to a person on the seatbelt to take an action to enable re-determining whether the seatbelt is correctly fastened, and 
 re-determining, based on updated interior cabin data indicating a reaction of the person to the prompt, whether the seatbelt is correctly fastened. 
   
     
     
         13 . A vehicle comprising the system of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions including:
 determining, based on interior cabin data, whether a seatbelt is correctly fastened, wherein the determining does not provide a positive confirmation that the seatbelt is correctly fastened;   outputting a prompt to a person on the seatbelt to take an action to enable re-determining whether the seatbelt is correctly fastened; and   re-determining, based on updated interior cabin data indicating a reaction of the person to the prompt, whether the seatbelt is correctly fastened.